Hawkshead Walks
January 5, 2021
Walks from Hawkshead in the Lake District is a definite favourite. It’s a fabulous small village with 4 pubs (yes you read that right, 4!), stunning little cafes and a host of unique shops. In addition the Beatrix Potter gallery is located right in the middle of the village – and so are we.
We are staying in the very beautiful Meadow View Cottage in a tiny courtyard behind the Red Lion pub. A property we love as it’s in a perfect location and has stunning views out to Latterbarrow.
This year we have been able to stay for longer spells in Hawkshead which has enabled us to really explore from the door. We have walked the familiar, but also been exploring a myriad different paths. And we are by no means finished, the possibilities seem endless.
We have however discussed (over a few Cumbrian beers) what we consider to be our favourite Hawkshead walks from our door (thus far). Of course, this may change as we are discovering more each day. Next time you’re in Hawkshead, put on your boots, grab your OL7 OS explorer map. and try some of our favourite Hawkshead walks:
A quick lesson in Lake District terminology
We’ve been coming to the Lake District for about 20 years and no longer bat an eye to the rather unique words that are used up here. But to the uninitiated it may all seem a bit strange, and to be honest we still come across words that are not familiar. Today, whilst walking along Esthwaite water we came to a “nab” on the lake. If anyone can confirm, but I think it’s something to do with a place to launch a boat? They appear to come from Old Norse and are used in Northern England, Scotland and some Scandic countries. Here’s a few that come up a lot:
A fell (fjall) – used widely to describe the summit of mountains and hill tops which are open moorland or crags above the tree-line.
A tarn (tjörn) – a very familiar term for any fell walker in the the Lake Districts. It is a lake, but one that is high in the mountains, probably glacially sourced.
A beck (bekkr)- A small fast flowing stream or river.
A sunset walk up Latterbarrow
After a day indoors stooped over a computer, a look out of the picture window to the obilisk on top of Latterbarrow was too much of a temptation. And with only 40 minutes until sunset, the decision was a quick one.
There are several routes that can be taken to achieve the small height of 245 metres. We steamed up the lane out of Hawkshead towards Colthouse and from there followed the lane up until a gate on the right allows access to the path up to Latterbarrow.
Latterbarrow is a stand-alone fell so although not very high, the views from the top are far-reaching; down to Hawkshead, Lake Windermere, Ambleside at the end of the lake and in the distance the Langdale fells.
After sunset, there’s just enough time to walk back down the fell in the dimming dusk light.
A stroll through Grizedale Forest to Carron Crag
This Hawkshead walk can develop into as big a walk as you’d like as there are multiple paths in Grizedale Forest, and with that multiple exit points. For an all day walk you could drop down into Coniston and head back to Hawkshead via Tarn Hows or the other side via Satterthwaite and Near Sawrey. But for this 2.5 hour hike it’s a way for us to get a quick 370m total ascent and 12km under the belt. So we walk along the main paths in the forest and exit via Moor Top and back along the road into Hawkshead. To complete in 2.5 hours you need to be quick, and normally dusk is hot on our heals as we squeeze this into maybe a rainy day that cleared with just 2 hours of daylight left
We leave Hawkshead village taking the path behind the Kings Arms pub, which goes directly uphill along the beck, and continue on the path between The Vicarage and Walker Ground. This path slowly climbs all the way into the forest at Low Park. Here we take the main path that leads to Moor Top, turning right just before the car park and with a steady incline we head up with Jack Gap Plantation on our left. At a cross roads we take the path left towards Park Plantation. Very soon there is a gravel path on the right steeply climbing to the Crag with its distinctive Trig Point.
Once you make the summit there are lovely views of Coniston Fells and The Old Man of Coniston, and glimpses of Satterthwaite and the valley. We then return re-tracing our steps to Moor Top.
I love the peace of the forest particularly in the winter, finishing the walk as the light fades for the day. On our last walk there was a lovely hoot of an owl from deep within the forest. We’ve never seen deer here, but they are around and we have seen a beautiful stag in Satterthwaite forest just across the valley. We always pack our cameras as the light here can change by the minute and we never know what we might find deep inside Grizedale Forest.
Tarn Hows circular
No trip to the lake district is complete without a visit to Tarn Hows. A sort-of man made tarn, it used to be three natural tarns before a local Coniston landowner bought the land and planned to turn it into an ornamental “tree” garden. (The National Trust are attempting to re-create some of the original planned landscaping).
Tarn Hows appeals to everyone. The walk around the tarn is fairly flat and a pleasant 2 mile circuit with lovely views out to the fells. This access (and good parking) makes it one of the more popular walks. However, walking from Hawkshead gives a more rural setting before the pristine path around the tarn is reached.
To give ourselves a good warm-up and get the legs moving we start out walking along Black Beck to Hawkshead Courthouse, before climbing slowly up Skinner How Lane. At the top of the lane at the junction a footpath sign can be seen straight ahead which takes us up a rocky “road”, again climbing slowly. As we climb the views open up over Hawkshead, to Latterbarrow and north to the mountain ranges behind Ambleside.
Although the path is rocky, it’s easy going and well-signposted for the turn to Tarn Hows. A walk around Tarn Hows either way is well worth it for the views over the lake and to find a spot to sit and take it all in.
To return back to Hawkshead there are two routes. Leaving Tarn Hows at its southern end following the sign for Hawkshead Hill, or leaving on the East side towards Rose Castle Cottage and then signs to Hawkshead. Either is straight-forward along wooded paths and fields finishing with a walk across farmland and down to views over Hawkshead.
Beatrix Potter tarn and Near Sawrey
The actual name of this tarn is Moss Eccles Tarn, but it was bequeathed by Beatrix Potter to the National Trust and now carries this nickname.
We have decided that this walk is now our traditional Christmas Day Hawkshead walk (we’ve done the walk on two Christmas Days….good enough). It doesn’t involve driving and the first time we did it. this was important as the walk involved a stop in Near Sawrey at the Tower Bank Arms for a festive (alcoholic) beverage. Of course this year that was not a possibility, but we did pass an older couple who were carrying hot Gluehwein and inquired whether we were carrying champagne (they caught the end of a video call with my Aunt…champagne may have been mentioned). I regret to say we were not.
We take our walk through Colthouse and the Colthouse plantation shouldering Latterbarrow, before taking the path past Wise Een Tarn and Moss Eccles Tarn.
The path is forest track and open field, and a touch of ice this year, climbing gently to about 240 metres. Once at the tarns the views out to the Langdales are fantastic. Farm tracks take us back down the hill to Near Sawrey before following the lane and new walking path back to Hawkshead; appetite making itself known for a Christmas dinner. This year roast pork, crackling and stuffing. Mmm.
Wray Castle and Lake Windermere
From Hawkshead, there’s an easy walking, well-signposted gravel path to Wray Castle. The path goes towards Outgate, undulating over farmland with lovely views of Blelham Tarn before reaching the lane to Wray castle. A National Trust property, it is possible to tour the castle in season. However, rather impressively, the grounds and more importantly, the cafe, are open almost all year round. Hot drink, snack and bathrooms…very convenient.
From the castle a small path goes down to Lake Windermere and the lakeside path. Walking along the shores the views of the lake are outstanding. 
We take our leave of the lake at Belle Grange and take the path straight up towards Long Height and over the brow down to Colthouse. Side trip up to Latterbarrow optional.
Arnside and lunch at The Drunken Duck
One of our favourite Hawkshead walks with a quality lunch and drinks. There’s a bit of moderate climbing to begin the day but the views are well worth it and approx.. 370m of elevation in total.
The walk leaves Hawkshead via the Ambleside road. Turn left at Hawkshead Hall and then next right along Skinner How Lane. This is all road walking but very picturesque and Skinner How Lane is very quiet. (A short detour for amazing jams and fresh eggs; at the next junction turn right and stay left on the road towards Sunny Brow. Take change. My favourite is the raspberry jam). 
Opposite the road junction is a footpath that climbs upwards towards Iron Keld Plantation. After about 1km we take the path right up past Iron Keld and toward the Arnside Plantation. 
The views from this area are spectacular and a favourite of ours. You can shorten the walk with a route over Black Crag (A must for those Wainwright baggers out there), but we continue on down towards Skelwith Bridge, taking all the off road paths. Finally we take small lanes back towards Bull Close and a late lunch at Barngates’ The Drunken Duck Inn. All in all 10.5km to this point and after refreshments it’s an easy 3.7km back to Hawkshead, mostly on quiet country roads and across the pathway from Outgate to Hawkshead.
What about Drunken Duck’s unusual name? Legend has it a Victorian landlady thought her ducks were dead on finding them stretched out in the road. After some unfortunate plucking, it transpired the ducks were drunk and not deceased. A barrel of beer had slipped its hoops in the cellar, spilling beer into the ducks’ feeding area which they gladly drank. The guilt-stricken landlady then knitted the ducks woolen waistcoats until their feathers grew back.
The Drunken Duck is a gastropub with their own on-site brewery. When both food and drink are delivered to this standard, it is a real treat for sure. Even more tasty when you’ve put some miles in to get there. It offers both fine dining in a restaurant setting and a bar menu with availability on a first come first served basis. I cannot avoid the Reuben sandwich washed down with a pint or two of their Red Terrier, a dark ale which is one of the best in the area IMHO. They also regularly have a fish-based scotch egg on the menu (salmon or mackerel combined with sausage meat) which is a favourite for both of us.
Once you have your fill, a singing jaunt back home to Hawkshead, with maybe one in the Outgate Inn on the way! Hic.
Where are we going after Hawkshead?
We’re hanging in the Lakes a bit longer and are hoping to keep exploring Hawkshead walks as well as venturing up to do some of The Wainwrights (known as bagging). Again for the uninitiated, The Wainwrights are the 214 Lakeland fells described by Alfred Wainwright in his hand-written 7 volume books “A pictorial guide to the Lakeland Fells”. To climb them all is quite a task, but the views from the top are usually spectacular. Another challenge? Well, why not?
Oh I so wish we were there with you , all looks so lovely
The pictures are excellent. Lakes looking lovely. Can’t wait to holiday again
Snowy scenery looks amazing, sad to have missed out this year.